In a heartfelt celebration of dedication and service, TNO hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Event on May 1st, 2025 at the Youth Hub to honor the outstanding contributions of its volunteers. The theme for this year’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week (celebrated from May 27th- April 3rd, 2025) was Volunteers Make Waves. The event brought together over 130 volunteers in a joyful atmosphere filled with gratitude, reflection, and celebration.
The evening began with a warm welcome from Diksha Dua, Volunteer Coordinator, who expressed sincere thanks to the volunteers whose time, energy, and commitment have been essential to advancing the organization’s mission. “Volunteering takes more than just time — it takes heart. And every one of you brings that in abundance,” she shared. The event also featured words of appreciation from Nalini Pandalangat, Vice President of Health, Wellness and Community Development, and CEO Ahmed Hussein, both of whom acknowledged the profound, transformative impact volunteers have on the communities TNO serves.
We were proud to present special recognition awards to two of our most dedicated volunteers: Erik Koudstaal, who has selflessly supported our Tax Clinic for 20 years, and Josephine Tang, a key contributor to our Food Collaborative and events since 2022, with over 2,000 volunteer hours. Both Erik and Josephine touched hearts by sharing their personal journeys and experiences, reminding everyone how individual efforts can create powerful waves of impact; leaving a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.
In addition, we gave special mentions to eight volunteers who have generously contributed over 500 hours of their time, recognizing their remarkable dedication and commitment.
Their names and areas of contribution included:
- Ayesha Jabbar (Sewing Hub)
- Atiya Mukhtar (Food Collaborative)
- Fatima Khote (Sewing Hub)
- Judi Fenton (English Conversation Group)
- Lynda Miller (English Conversation Group)
- Mohammad Nurul Islam Sarker (Food Collaborative)
- Nicholas Cheung (Tax Clinic)
- Sydney Silva (Food Collaborative)
We honoured all the volunteers in attendance with certificates and tokens of appreciation to celebrate their valuable contributions.
We wanted to create a night that made each volunteer feel valued, their generosity shapes our organization, and this was our way of giving back, even just a little.
As the evening came to a close, guests left with smiles, keepsakes, and renewed motivation to continue making a difference.
TNO extends its deepest thanks to all volunteers and looks forward to another year of shared purpose and meaningful impact.
